Liza Minelli to Join Lorna Luft at Birdland, Oct. 14 & 21; Full October Lineup Announced

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their brilliant line-up of marvelous talent for the month of October 2013. Birdland will kick-off their electrifying month of programming with the following acts:

October 1 - 5 (Tuesday-Saturday) at 8:30PM & 11PM
Regina Carter Quartet
Time Magazine calls violinist Regina Carter "wonderfully listenable, probingly intelligent, and at times breathtakingly daring." As one of the most recent and important in a long line of eclectic Jazz artists from Detroit (including Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Burrell, Barry Harris, cousin James Carter and others) Regina Carter is as likely to explore that city's rich musical history through the music of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as she is through Tin Pan Alley and Classical music where she first garnered attention as a member of the Detroit Civic Symphony Orchestra. After a 2006 MacArthur Fellowship, Carter formed a new band, "Reverse Thread," which combined material from her acclaimed Paganini project with music from Mali, Senegal, and Uganda and featured the sounds of the accordion and kora in addition to violin, bass, and drums. Her current project with a quartet prepares for the Spring 2014 CD release "Southern Comfort."
$35 Side Seating, $45 Center Seating, $10 minimum

October 3 (Thursday) at 6PM
Pianist Beegie Adair & Vocalist Monica Ramey
Beegie Adair, who Michael Feinstein called "a marvelously understated player whose interpretations of standards are just brilliant," jazz great Helen Merrill salutes her "inventive jazz sense, her wonderful sense of time and improvised melody," and The Los Angeles Times calls her music "Elegant," will be making her return to Birdland with vocalist Monica Ramey. In 2011, their performances, as a duo and with the renowned Beegie Adair Trio, have consistently energized sold out audiences. Adair's albums have dominated the jazz charts and album sales in Japan in 2010 and 2011 while Ramey's debut album "Make Someone Happy" continues to receive international accolade and airplay on jazz radio, including Music Choice and DMX.
$35 All Seats, $10 minimum

October 6 (Sunday) at 6PM
Jazzical Meets Menken CD Release Celebration
A release celebration for the 7th CD in pianist Joel Martin's Jazzical -- hybrid jazz and classical -- series honors the music & creative genius of multiple Grammy/Oscar/Tony award-winning composer Alan Menken (Newsies, Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin, etc) featuring the Joel Martin trio + guest vocalists Liz Callaway, Amanda McBroom, Christine Pedi.
$30 All Seats, $10 minimum

October 7 (Monday) at 7PM
Maxine Linehan: An American Journey
Actress/singer Maxine Linehan presents the New York Premiere of her theatrical concert on Monday, October 7 at 7pm, as part of the Broadway at Birdland concert series. In one unique hour of music, Maxine Linehan serves up a story that is, at once, both achingly personal and extraordinarily universal. Maxine left Ireland twelve years ago to come to America. She, like tens of millions before her, became part of an American Journey. Her story is OUR story. Using songs that range over a century, and singing in genres as diverse as country, Broadway, and pop, this is a show for everyone and about us all.
$25 All Seats, $10 minimum

October 8 - 12 (Tuesday - Saturday) at 8:30PM & 11PM
Karrin Allyson
For multiple Grammy nominated singer and pianist Karrin Allyson, the release of "Round Midnight," marked her thirteenth album in a 19-year association with the Concord Jazz label. Besides her distinctive voice, which, as described by jazz critic Gary Giddins, "brings a timbre that is part ice and part grain... incisive, original and emotionally convincing," one of the most noteworthy characteristics of Allyson's career is the wide range of material she has explored. "Karrin has expanded the jazz vocal repertoire," says Concord VP Nick Phillips, who cites her ease and authenticity in both French and Portuguese as well as her embrace of the Great American Songbook, roots music, bossa nova, blues and jazz. For her Birdland engagement, Karrin will debut music from her November 1st holiday CD release as well as from another completely original CD project due in 2014.
$35 Side Seating, $45 Center Seating, $10 minimum

October 10 (Thursday) at 6PM
Cellist Borislav Strulev CD Release Celebration
Russian cellist Borislav Strulev is rapidly establishing a reputation as a cellist of exceptional temperament and technique. His charisma and his enormous sound have fascinated and enchanted audiences of world's most renowned stages. Mr. Strulev appeared as special guest on two significant crossover recordings produced by Ettore Stratta with jazz violinist Regina Carter on "Paganini: after a dream" (Verve - Universal label) and with celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and Brazilian jazz pianist Eliane Elias on "Lost Days" (RCA - Red Seal).
$40 All Seats, $10 minimum

October 14 & 21 (Monday) at 7PM
Lorna's Pink Party
Starring Lorna Luft
With her Special Guest, Liza Minnelli

The Actors Fund, the nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, is proud to present the 2013 edition of Nothing Like a Dame: Lorna's Pink Party, a benefit for the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the Dr. Philomena McAndrew Fund of Tower Cancer Research Foundation. This highly anticipated event, starring entertainment legend Lorna Luft with her special guest Liza Minnelli will take place for two nights only on Monday, October 14th at 7 pm, and Monday, October 21st at 7 pm, at Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, New York City. The intimate evening of cabaret will be hosted by stage, film and television actress, best-selling author, recording artist and Emmy nominated producer Lorna Luft and will feature Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winning performer Liza Minnelli. It has been 20 years since the two sisters performed together; the last time was their memorable duet for the 1993 Tony Awards. The evening will include appearances by Nick Adams, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Jim Caruso, Kelly King, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Phyllis Newman and Marcia Strassman.
Tickets start at $250 and can be purchased at www.actorsfund.org or by phone at 212.221.7300 ext. 133 or email: tickets@actorsfund.org.

October 15 - 19 (Tuesday - Saturday) at 8:30PM & 11PM
Benny Green Trio
Featuring: Kenny Washington (drums) & David Wong (bass
Inspired by his saxophonist father, Berkeley California native pianist Benny Green embraced jazz at an early age. In his early 20's he toured with jazz legends BetTy Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey and Ray Brown before signing a recording contract with Blue Note Records. A few years later he became a protege of pianist Oscar Peterson, recording "Oscar & Benny" for Telarc Records. As a leader Benny's groups haves performed in all the major clubs, festivals and concert halls around the world. His new recording "Magic Beans," (Sunnyside Records) is a return to the kind of swinging straight ahead jazz piano trio playing of which he is now an acknowledged master.
$35 Side Seating, $45 Center Seating, $10 minimum

October 22 - 23 (Tuesday - Wednesday) at 8:30PM & 11PM
Peter Eldridge & Jane Monheit
For a special Birdland engagement, Peter Eldridge, "a superb musical alchemist," (Jazz Times) and long-time member of the acclaimed vocal group New York Voices, joins forces with critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, whose honey-smooth vocals, silky phrasing and natural knack for storytelling have earned her two Grammy nominations and established her as one of her generation's most beloved and accomplished vocalists.
$35 Side Seating, $45 Center Seating, $10 minimum

October 24 - 26 (Thursday - Saturday) at 8:30PM & 11PM
Kurt Elling
On his recent CD, Kurt Elling -- "The standout male vocalist of our time," (New York Times) -- celebrates the legendary honeycomb of offices and studios in the heart of midtown Manhattan which served as the creative home for more than 160 tenants associated with the pop-music industry including Leiber and Stoller ("Stand By Me"), Goffin and King ("Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"), Mann and Weil ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"), and Bacharach and David ("Walk On By"). Even for the ceaselessly inventive GRAMMY-winning singer-lyricist, "1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project" is an unexpected step, but one guaranteed to further solidify his reputation for bold innovation and superb craftsmanship. Starting in Chicago, Elling recorded several of his early albums, earned the first of many GRAMMY nominations and catapulted onto the national stage before moving to Manhattan in 2008. In a sense "1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project" is also his response to that career journey.
$45 All Seats, $10 minimum

October 28 (Monday) at 7PM
The Pop Show Presents...The Rolling Stones!
The Broadway at Birdland concert series is proud to announce "The Pop Show Presents....Rolling Stones!" on Monday, October 28 at 7pm. What is "The Pop Show?" Pop decadence done right: Every other month, we pick a different pop music theme. Irresistible performers collide with the pulsating Pop Show Band and Singers to bring you rare, unexpected, once-in-a-lifetime singer/song pairings, creating a unique and intense auditory experience. Depending on the show, it could be pop. It could be country. It could be 70's soul or 80's glam. It could be an entire concert of Amy Winehouse songs. Or The Doors. Or One Direction. Surprise guests, audience giveaways and delirious musical merriment make "The Pop Show" New York's most unmissable and unpredictable concert event. Please visit www.PopShowNYC.com for more concert details.
$25 side, $30 center, $10 minimum

October 29 - November 2 (Tuesday - Saturday) at 8:30PM & 11PM
Ron Carter Nonet
Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific and influential bassists in jazz with more than 2,000 albums to his credit. Beginning his career in the 1960s with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy, Cannonball Adderley and a five year stint with the MiLes Davis' Quintet, Ron also performed and recorded with notables including Bill Evans, B.B. King, and Dexter Gordon. His Nonet features a standard rhythm section -- piano, bass, drums -- plus a cello quartet with Carter upfront on piccolo bass where his, "pizzicato work on the piccolo (which is half the size of a double bass, and tuned a fourth higher) pierces the ensemble's luminous accompaniment like a needle through satin." (Jazz Times)
$35 Side Seating, $45 Center Seating, $10 minimum

Birdland will also feature the following recurring monthly engagements:

October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (Wednesdays) at 5:30pm
David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Centennial Band
"Tubaist David Ostwald's fabulous early-swing band is about as good as it gets. Known for their energetic treatment of Louis Armstrong's repertoire, these cats like to entertain as much as they like to swing." (Time Out NY)
$25 all seats, $10 minimum

October 4, 11, 18, 25 (Fridays) at 5:15PM
The Birdland Big Band
Every Friday the "BBB" roars into action playing a thrilling and original mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin and world music for sold-out audiences. Featured weekly guest artists drop-in from television bands (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live) and pop music touring bands (Rob Thomas, Rod Stewart). Come see for yourself why Time Out New York called the BBB, "a completely unique experience... there isn't another band like this anywhere," and yelp.com proclaims, "if you hear one band in NYC make sure this is it... and prepare to be blown away!"
$30 all seats, $10 minimum

October 5, 12, 19, 26 (Saturdays) at 6pm
Barbara Carroll Duo with Jay Leonhart
Her "jazz pianism is the subtlest and most intricate New York has to offer." (New Yorker) Barbara Carroll's inventive piano playing and unique vocal sound transforms any composition into something hip and urbane. In a sixty-year career she has gone from being dubbed "the first girl ever to play bebop piano" by Leonard Feather in 1947, to today being dubbed a "singer who turns song lyrics into personal dramatic monologues." (Stephen Holden, New York Times)
$35 all seats, $10 minimum

October 6, 13, 20, 27 (Sundays) at 9PM & 11PM
Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Grammy Award winning pianist, composer and educator Arturo O'Farrill -- leader of the "first family of Afro-Cuban Jazz" (NY Times) -- was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. Son of the late, great composer Chico O'Farrill, Arturo was Educated at Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn College Conservatory and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He played piano in Carla Bley's Big Band from 1979 through 1983 and earned a reputation as a soloist in groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Freddy Cole, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Belafonte. After leading his late father's orchestra for many years, Arturo formed his own groups, from trio through orchestra, in order to explore his and other compositions in the panoply of Afro Latin music.
$30 all seats, $10 minimum

October 7, 14, 21, 28 (Mondays) at 9:30PM
Jim Caruso's Cast Party
Jim Caruso's Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. It's a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars, backed by Steve Doyle on bass, Tedd Firth on piano and Daniel Glass on drums, hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.
$20 all seats, $10 minimum

October 13, 20, 27 (Sundays) at 6PM
The Birdland Jazz Party
Featuring the Birdland Quartet
Plus Guest Vocalists
$25 all seats, $10 minimum

Purchase tickets at: www.BirdlandJazz.com. For more information and reservations call 212-581-3080. Ticket prices will vary by performer. At the tables, there is a $10 food/drink minimum per person in addition to the music charge. At the bar, the music charge will include one complimentary drink with no additional minimum.

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